The Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble and the Vancouver Saxophone Ensemble are joining forces for the Joy of Sax concert at Evergreen Cultural Center in February. I’m a member of both ensembles, playing bass clarinet with PSWE and baritone sax with VSE. However, my student James Chen who plays bari with PSWE cannot make the gig, so I am covering his part, and my colleague Jamie Henderson from the sax ensemble will be the guest bass clarinetist with PSWE.

It was wierd indeed to hear someone else on the part at rehearsal last night. Despite the sax section being featured in this performance, I felt a twinge of regret. After 24 years as PSWE’s low clarinetist, that voice just feels like it should be mine!